Is once enough when pushing the crosswalk button?

Q: I’ve been told that pushing the crosswalk button several times when you’re trying to cross the street doesn’t do any good – once is enough.

Is that true?

If it is true and I keep hitting the button over and over, will that reset the signal and delay the light from changing?

A: Once is enough, Seattle Department of Transportation spokeswoman Peg Nielsen said after consulting the signal operations staff.

“The signal controller will serve the pedestrian phase at the next available opportunity. If the signal is running in a synchronized corridor – lights synchronized along a stretch of an arterial – there may be some delay before the walk signal is given while the intersection completes the current cycle.”

You can pound the crosswalk button all you like and each signal won’t reset the message, Nielsen said.

Each push of the button is similar to resending an e-mail rather than restarting a computer, if that analogy helps.

This question isn’t exactly one for police, prosecutors or fire officials, but I found the answer because the question is one I’ve wondered about for decades. (This question would fit in the P-I’s Getting There column, written by Scott Gutierrez. Read more here.)

Like many others, I’d been told that one push was enough, but still hit the button at least two or three times. Doesn’t everybody, especially on bad days when traffic is rough?

Thanks to the people who submitted questions. Previous answers are linked below.